finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

Posted by on 04.14.16west chester, PA

Finished my apprenticeship about a month ago. Im a certified artist and im in a rut. Im not confident I my portfolio and I dont know where to turn next. I want to send out my portfolio but I only have a few decent tattoos. My portfolio is on instagram https://www.instagram.com/juicebox_art/
If anyone has some words of encouragement or constructive criticisms I dont know exactly what shops are looking for. Im 21 and still relatively new to the scene only a year of apprenticeship for expiereince.

Replies:

RE:finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

RE:finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

Posted by
Søren thomas on 04.14.16Denmark

Hi. I don't want to sound like a dick.m, but I will give you my honest opinion wether you like it or not.

I'm sorry to tell you, but If you really think your apprentice time is over, somebody fucked your ass blue and grey, without useing Vaseline. Your tattoos don't look clean at all. The lines are not consistent, your shadeing is far from smooth and your colouring looks super patchy. If you really think your apprentice time is over, I really think you should start to criticise your own work more. I for everything hope you did not pay for this apprenticeship, cause it has been a hugh waste of your money.

If I where you, I would stop tattooing, and learn to draw. Not copying realistic photos, but really learn to draw. I know what I talk about cause I used to suck Hugh donkey dick at tattooing. Until I finally decided to learn to draw, and from there it only went in the right direction. Draw 3 to 8 hours a day.

Everything I do know I spend many hours on drawing. You can't fix a tattoo that's made with a crappy design, but as you get better with time you can fix a good design that's made with a bad technique.

Tattooing is not easy, and it's a very fucking hard job if you want to succeed! And if you do want to, just stop what you are doing and put a serious effort in learning to draw.

RE:finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

RE:finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

Posted by
Distinkedart@gmail.com on 04.15.16Ks

I commented earlier in this thread without looking at your if profile. In my opinion I would put down your machine and pick up a paintbrush. The tattoos I seen are less than mediocre. Start by pulling lines with a thin narrow brush. After you've done that with no wobbles, then go back and shade those paintings in. Looks to me like you know the light source shading but ink to skin application is lacking

RE:finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

Posted by
invasion on 04.23.16Uk

you need to get your line work on point first,invest in practice skins and practice on yourself doing smooth bold lines because no offence but no one is gonna want one of your tattoos the line work is messy AF, whoever taught you tattoo needs to go back and do an apprenticeship themselves if they think your finished, not trying to be harsh but a tattoo is for life and the customers deserve the best they can get, you need to get over your nerve issues I had the same problem at your stage I was to scared to put a proper line in but as soon as you get over that fear I'm sure you'll see massive improvements in your work my friend

RE:finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

RE:finished apprenticeship what now? - -1

Posted by
James on 04.25.16IN

Hey there, i know you got beat up pretty good on your work. so i'm not gonna say anything about that, but i did want to say that even though you may not have wanted to hear a lot of that it will help you become a better tattooist as long as you remember these days and strive to do better. i did want to say you did the right thing coming to this forum for help. it shows that you are really wanting to advance. you took all the advice like a true professional instead of going off. so hang in there and if you need answers to anything else i think that most of the guys on here will be glad to help you.because of the way you carry yourself. it's nice to see someone man up and take criticism the way you did . guys on here can be very brutal but most of them are very good guys and amazing artist so they know what will help you. hope this helps...